HUGE NEWS! Clay Bennett & Co. buy Supersonics!

[metro]

HOT ROD, what's the latest from Seattle?? I haven't heard anything new from the Seattle Times.

[Easy180]

It is pretty quiet even on their forums....Guess the story has died down some

I do know Bennett is in Seattle discussing the fate of the front office personnel and discussing the possibility of relocation with them...Of course it's more about whether they even have jobs after this week

Should hear some kind of announcement today or tomorrow I would think

[metro]

Yeah that's what I've seem to concluded, the releases we heard last week were hyping us up for an announcement soon. (Hopefully this week). Not to mention they were a public last effort attempt to push for legislation before the session ended. Well, obviously the session ended without any progress on the issue. Hopefully he's just laying low as Stern and Board of Governors probably advised him to for a few days, wait until the session ended for a few days after, talk about personnel changes, and they make another announcement about personnel, then shortly after about the status of relocation.

I haven't seen anything on any online boards lately so didn't know if HOT ROD had personally heard anything on the streets since.

[y_h]

I'd be a little surprised if the announcement was made any time prior to the start of the NBA Finals. Usually the league discourages major story breaks during the playoffs (so as not to divert attention away from the participating teams and the games themselves) and uses the day or two runup to the start of the Finals as its time to roll out major news for the upcoming season. Of course, with a story of this magnitude which seems to be on the verge of breaking as it is, it could be an even bigger PR disaster to attempt to sidestep or dismiss the issue until a "more convenient" time for the league.

[jbrown84]

Yeah, seems like they would wait for the finals to be over. When is that?

[y_h]

Usually around the third week of June. That might be pushing it, especially since the draft is generally two weeks afterward. If the Sonics are in fact headed to OKC this fall, they will need to be prepared with OKC Sonics signage for the draft room, hats and jerseys or shirts for the draftees and a graphics package for the television coverage. If the new owners already have a new name and identity under wraps then they will most certainly need to have all of those materials worked up and ready to go in advance and it will be very hard to conceal that stuff for very long - especially since trademarks and tradenames must be registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office first. There's a group of "logo sleuths" over on the sportslogos.net web community that sniffs this stuff out all the time, so the NBA will need to be prepared to beat them to the punch. That's why I say that the NBA would prefer to push any announcement back to the Finals at the earliest but it just might not be feasible to do so.

Pretty exciting to be discussing this stuff, eh?

[jbrown84]

There's a group of "logo sleuths" over on the sportslogos.net web community that sniffs this stuff out all the time,

Anything about this being discussed there?

[y_h]

Anything about this being discussed there?

Very briefly but nothing since last Thursday and certainly not to the level that is being discussed here. They're not so much keyed in (no pun intended) on breaking sports news as they are on breaking sports-design news - new logos, color, uniforms. A good 95% of the site is useless to the general sports public. Even I've quit frequenting the place due to the annoying nature of many of the regular posters.

I like it here much better.

[jbrown84]

But they had no speculation about new logos/names for the OKC Sonics?

[y_h]

But they had no speculation about new logos/names for the OKC Sonics?

No, nothing whatsoever. I suspect that the team will retain the Sonics name and colors for this upcoming season for no other reason than there simply isn't sufficient time to do the kind of focus group work teams like to do before creating or changing a team's name and/or image. The present name, colors and logo will work for a year - just think of that big "S" in the logo as standing for "Sonics" and you're fine. Oklahoma City Sonics (or Oklahoma Sonics) for one season certainly sounds less awkward than "Tennessee Oilers" did for three seasons.

[Patrick]

No, nothing whatsoever. I suspect that the team will retain the Sonics name and colors for this upcoming season for no other reason than there simply isn't sufficient time to do the kind of focus group work teams like to do before creating or changing a team's name and/or image. The present name, colors and logo will work for a year - just think of that big "S" in the logo as standing for "Sonics" and you're fine. Oklahoma City Sonics (or Oklahoma Sonics) for one season certainly sounds less awkward than "Tennessee Oilers" did for three seasons.

Ummmm, I prefer Oklahoma CITY.

[y_h]

Ummmm, I prefer Oklahoma CITY.

As do I. I think the market's solid enough not to have to sacrifice its individual identity to serve a necessary statewide constituency. I'm hoping CITY is very much a part of the team's name.

[Nixon7]

Will the lease be easy for CB to get out of in time for 07/08 season in OKC?

[Kerry]

I had hopes for a quick exit from Seattle but all indications are that the team will play one final year in Seattle. The one bright spot for an early exit is the absence of news coming out of the NBA meeting. They were stragely silient on what is the biggest news in the NBA - the relocation of the Sonics. the only "news" was a restatment of the Bennett press release saying that not having a vote was disappointing.

[metro]

Out in Seattle: Hill as coach, Sund as GM
/ Associated Press
Posted: 20 minutes ago

SEATTLE - The Seattle SuperSonics began remodeling their basketball operations on Tuesday, firing head coach Bob Hill and removing Rick Sund as general manager following one of the worst seasons in franchise history.

Seattle went 31-51 in Hill's only full season as head coach, the Sonics' worst record since the 1985-86 season when they finished with an identical record. Only three times in the Sonics' 40-year history have they finished with a worse record.
Hill's contract was set to expire in June. The team said Sund will remain with the team as a consultant during the final year of his contract.

Sonics' majority owner Clay Bennett and vice chairman Lenny Wilkens will lead the search for replacements in both positions.

"Bob Hill and Rick Sund are fine individuals of excellent personal character and are basketball men through and through. They were both extremely helpful to us during this challenging year of transition. We are sincerely appreciative to them for their service and we wish them only the very best," Bennett said in a statement.

[Kerry]

Wonder if they will try to hire Byron Scott.

[HOT ROD]

Yeah that's what I've seem to concluded, the releases we heard last week were hyping us up for an announcement soon. (Hopefully this week). Not to mention they were a public last effort attempt to push for legislation before the session ended. Well, obviously the session ended without any progress on the issue. Hopefully he's just laying low as Stern and Board of Governors probably advised him to for a few days, wait until the session ended for a few days after, talk about personnel changes, and they make another announcement about personnel, then shortly after about the status of relocation.

I haven't seen anything on any online boards lately so didn't know if HOT ROD had personally heard anything on the streets since.

Hi Metro.

Sorry I wasn't able to post lately - I've been pretty busy with work. Im actually going to be in OKC this weekend for the Arts Festival.

Anyways, its been pretty quiet here in Seattle - people are starting to realize that the team is gone but people are wondering what move(s) will take place next.

Its sort of a mum's the word - like a fighting dog who got wipped into shape, he just sits there and waits for the next move; that is how I liken many SONICS fans. I do know the WA legislature is adjurned - no mention of the SONICS and no extension of the session for them. The next session will not begin until Jan 8'ish 2008 - way way later than Clay's deadline of Oct 31 2007.

Also, I agree with what was said earlier - we might not here about relocation to OKC until after the finals. The NBA may have told Bennett to lay low a little, so that there will not be any distraction from the playoffs. This makes sense because it is in everyone's interest.

I know Bennett was in Seattle today, but he didn't say much other than "you're fired" a couple of times. That was basically it, so wouldn't you agree with me that an announcement might take place in a month (otherwise, he'd have a speach reiterating the team would stay one more year and bla bla bla).

I bet, while he is here - he might be having dinner with a few folks to judge the "private investment interest" as Im sure that is also something the NBA discussed. If there is no interest (and I very-highly doubt there is) - I can almost promise you there will be an announcement soon (perhaps after the finals) tha the Sonics will relocate to Oklahoma City. The question is, 2007 or 2008 with a lame-duck year in Seattle???.

That's pretty much all I know or could speculate at the moment, once I hear/see anything I will post as usual - but I will be out-of-touch for about a week as I will be in OKC city then Chicago.

[metro]

Yeah, that's what I've started to assume, is that no announcement until after the Finals. Makes sense. Just good to hear word on the streets in Seattle in the meantime. Glad you're coming to OKC this week.

[HOT ROD]

metro et al, this was in the papers today. Looks like that door is finally starting to close permanently!!!

More doubts about Sonics' future as land deal falters
By CRAIG HARRIS
P-I REPORTER

When the Sonics needed some momentum two weeks ago to urge lawmakers to push through a funding package for a new arena, the team boldly announced it had reached a deal in principle to acquire land in Renton for the facility.

A Sonics spokesman, at the time, said negotiations to acquire 21 acres of land for the proposed arena were in the final stages and such an agreement would put to rest questions over the team's commitment to build in Renton.

That deal, however, was never executed, sources said Wednesday, further fueling doubts about the team's long-term future in the region.

Renton, for now, has given up hope that an arena will be built on the south end of Lake Washington.

"We are waiting for someone, whether that be the governor or Legislature or Sonics to show us how an events center development could happen in a timely way in Renton," said Alex Pietsch, the city's economic development administrator. "We are starting to look beyond the events center opportunity and what else is going on in the city."

Lawmakers, who ended their session Sunday, rebuffed the Sonics by not even voting on allowing public subsidies to be used for the proposed $500 million arena.

That caused Sonics owner Clay Bennett to threaten to move the team out of KeyArena after next season even though the team has a signed lease to play in Seattle Center until 2010.

Bennett is slated to meet Thursday with Renton Mayor Kathy Keolker, according to Pietsch. Pietsch did not know what was on the agenda.

The right of first refusal for the land, which is owned by The Boeing Co., remains in the hands of Harvest Partners.

Boeing said it had no comment Thursday.

Dallas-based developer Harvest Partners is working on a 68-acre urban village just off Interstate 405 in Renton's South Lake Washington neighborhood. Part of that land is under construction, but the Sonics had wanted about one-third of the property that has yet to be developed.

Harvest Partners had repeatedly said it wasn't interested in selling those rights to the Sonics. But the developer suddenly changed course two weeks ago when the Sonics were lobbying lawmakers to approve a funding package.

Jim Kneeland, a Sonics spokesman, said April 9 that the announced deal "demonstrates we're serious about getting this property under control. We're working to get that done."

Calls to Kneeland were not returned. The Sonics did not immediately comment.

P-I reporter Craig Harris can be reached at 206-448-8138 or craigharris@seattlepi.com.

Bennett is still here, I think he is closing those doors - more due-diligence, so that he can fully say - we tried!! But the fact that the "land deal" wasn't even a deal (call it a lie, perhaps to try to sway the vote??) means the Sonics are HISTORY in Seattle!!! EVERYONE KNOWS IT NOW!!

The question still remains, when. I think this bad publicity is setting the stage for an early exit - especially since the Sonics HAVE NOT ANNOUNCED ANYTHING REGARDING SEASON TICKETS FOR 2007 YET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !

I think there will be an announcement soon (whether its tomorrow or the end of May) that the Sonics will not sell Season Tix for 2007 and will instead move to OKC. That message is becoming more and more clear (even tho the media keeps inserting that the move would be "after" 2007; I doubt he'd wait that long now that EVERYTHING that was supposedly done is unwravelling.

Great news for Oklahoma City. !!!!

[Kerry]

Since I don't live in OKC I can't buy season tickets, but I will sign up for NBA league pass on DirectTV. I can't wait.

[HOT ROD]

Yeah, I tried to watch EVERY Hornets game that was on TV here in Seattle - just so I could keep up with OKC, contribute to its ratings, and see some of the players.

I also went to some games in the city; I really think the Hornets owed it to OKC to make the playoffs this year. That would have been a very nice appreciation present - even though they would get killed in the first round; but who cares.

It just would have been a nice kudos to OKC to give them their first major league playoff games.

Oh well, we need to look forward to the Sonics. Like I said, I think the ground work is being laid for an early exit from Seattle. We'll see - it may take until after the NBA finals but the movement or lack thereof along with the bit of negatives really seems like its becoming sour grapes - time to put them out of their misery.

[okclee]

Since I don't live in OKC I can't buy season tickets, but I will sign up for NBA league pass on DirectTV. I can't wait.

There is no rule saying that you must live in OKC in order to purchase season tickets. I would be willing to go to the games in your place and give you a full report on each and every game.

[Pete]

Even though this continues to look great for OKC, I have the feeling we won't hear anything (other than rumor) for quite some time.

Bennett will continue to work behind the scenes to try and get an arena deal, as he still has about 6 months before his self-imposed deadline. At the same time, he'll be in Stern's ear telling him that if he can't get a deal soon, he'll want to move the team to OKC sooner rather than later.

Bennett has been very astute in this whole process and I bet he's willing to keep the team in Seattle one more year at a loss in order to get what he really wants: the Soncis to OKC. And waiting that extra year would not only guarantee the move would be approved (nobody in the NBA wants poor attendance) but they he'll have time to work out a sweetheart deal in OKC that will likely offset any one-year loss in Seattle... And then some.

[metro]

I do think that is a highly possible option Malibu. Either that or an immediate move. I don't think there will be any alternative options at this point. While I do see the NBA wanting to wait until after the Finals PR-wise to make an announcement. I'm wondering if the media will allow them to hold out that long. It's a hot story not only here in OKC and Seattle but obviously the rumors have been going on for some time now and with the season over for the Sonic's we're only going to hear more of this. I wonder if PR-wise the NBA will be forced to announce something sooner than they would like.

[okclee]

Here is the latest from the WA area.......

Finding a coach, GM and Home.

From the AP wire.

AP Wire - Washington | kgw.com | News for Oregon and SW Washington

"These explorations have a twist: Whoever accepts the jobs won't know where they will be working in 12 months.

Last week, Bennett said the Sonics will likely move following the after next season, their 41st in Seattle. That's because his proposal to use public money to fund the majority of a $500 million suburban arena failed to even make it to a vote in the state Legislature.

"We're open to suggestions, but right now we don't see a way to do this here," Kneeland said Bennett told a closed-door meeting of Seattle's convention and visitors bureau on Wednesday. "We're at the point where we've got to start looking at other options."

Yet Kneeland said of the owner: "He is pretty confident he will find basketball people who are willing to relocate, even if they don't know where they will be.

"It's a lot harder on the administrative staff. But for basketball people, there are only 30 teams. There aren't many of these jobs available. He won't have a problem attracting people."

Tuesday, Bennett turned off much of the shrinking pockets of Seattle that care about the Sonics.

He fired Hill over the phone, hours after Hill had surgery for a hernia near his home in San Antonio. Then Bennett released a short, bland news release. He did not face the myriad questions surrounding his drifting franchise.

Kneeland said the owner felt a press conference in Seattle to announce Hill's firing and Sund's demotion to become a "consultant" would spiral into a heated inquiry on why the team is about to leave.

"He wanted the issue to be about them," Kneeland said of Hill and Sund and their potential replacements. "

I have thought all along that if the Sonics were to move that it would not be until after one more season in Seattle. Now I am starting to think that this could happen quickly and the the Sonics could make the announcement within the next few months.

After all we had only 6 weeks until the season began after the Hornets announced that they were coming to Okc, and that seemed to work out for everyone.

The drama never ends...................to be continued.